Newsletter: August 2019

CO-OP NEWS We are walking in the Mushroom Festival Parade! We'd love for as many member-owners and friends of the co-op as possible to join us! Bring your co-op t-shirt (or if you don't have one yet, bring $10 and get yourself one of these super comfortable and cool t-shrits). Anyway, we want to see you and walk through town spreading the word about the co-op. So if you are a co-op fan, a mushroom festival fan, a parade fan or bored on a Friday night, amp up your Mushroom Festival weekend and walk in the parade with us.  This is a chance to build awareness in the larger community about the co-op and spark some questions. Let's make a statement with a large group. BECOME A MEMBER OWNER Ensure that our local community owned grocer becomes a reality. Become a member owner today. A one time investment of $300 is all it takes to make sure that this community that prides itself in local, sustainable, and community focused efforts has a grocery store that embodies those values. That you as a part of this community have a place that is accessible and trustworthy to shop at. Join us! MEMBER OWNER SPOTLIGHT ROS FENTON As a member-owner of the Co-op, I am choosing to participate in building a stronger local food system and thus a healthier, more connected community. Being raised in a family that grew many of our own fruits & vegetables, shopped the farmers market, and cooked from scratch created a love for real food. What has become more evident to me over time is that the community we build around food is just as nourishing as the food itself. Eating is more meaningful when we connect to the source—the people. It’s impossible to make these connections in the aisles of a big box store! As the Farmers Market Manager for Historic Kennett, I am excited about the connections will develop between the market & Co-op as the community evolves. I’ll never give up my weekly KSQ Farmers Market shopping to “shake the hand that feeds me,” but being able to drop by the Co-op any time for additional foods from trusted local producers, bulk whole foods and other basic needs is very exciting! We’ll be able to put more of our food dollars to work directly in our community—in a grocery store owned by us, not an out-of-touch corporation.  Being the mother of a young person becoming more aware of his place in the world, I also want him to understand the reasons why we choose to shop and eat the way we do as a family. Supporting the growth of the Co-op is another opportunity to inspire the next generation to continue building a more sustainable food system that values truly healthy people, healthy communities, and a healthy environment.   GET INVOLVED! We are looking forward to you joining us as a member owner! Go HERE to learn the details and officially become a part of this movement. Then take the next step to spread the word and build excitement and momentum around the co-op. We need your enthusiasm and involvement to make sure our doors open as quickly as possible. Click Here to sign up to help with upcoming events and/or plan to attend a committee meeting to give your input and get plugged in. BOARD MEETING: Monday, September 9 @ 7PM at The Market at Liberty Place EVENTS COMMITTEE: September 17 @ 7 PM at The Market at Liberty Place MARKETING: Sept 15th, 3:30 @ Philter     President's Report        As the seasons change and the chaos of the school year begins, there is one thing that can cause a lot of stress…. school lunches.  With a Co-op in town, shopping for healthy snacks and lunch material to send your kiddos off to school with will be as easy as walking through the doors. You won’t have to spend time using your detective skills to figure out what product is the better option for your kids, because you will know the Co-op carries quality food and the money you spend is going right back into the community…. maybe even for a program to provide free lunches to a child in need. We might not be in school anymore, but a new fiscal year has started for the Co-op and with it comes learning, growing, and goals. We have set a goal to gain 10 new Member-Owners a month this year, so if you’ve been on the fence, now is the best time to join us!  Help us grow and develop this year by becoming a Member-Owner and get closer to opening those Co-op doors... especially if you have school lunches to make! The Co-Op Out and About Town Thursday, Sept 19th It's the last one of the summer! Join us at the table and share your co-op love with our neighbors. The Co-Op at the August 3rd Thursday. Come get a t-shirt and sign up!